H-1B visa application period begins for fiscal year 2017

Today, Friday, April 1, 2016, begins the application period for H-1B visas for fiscal year 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017).

The H-1B visa allows certain foreign professionals to live and work legally within the United States for an initial period of three years.

There is a high demand for these visas and there are only 65,000 available. If you are interested and qualify for this visa, you should apply as soon as possible, before they run out.

Of the 65,000 H-1B visas available, 6,800 are reserved for nationals of Chile and Singapore under the terms of free trade agreements with those countries. Another 20,000 visas are designated for workers with graduate degrees (masters and doctorates) obtained in the United States.

Applications filed by universities and government or non-profit research institutions do not count toward the 65,000 visa cap. Applications by individuals seeking an extension of their H-1B status in the U.S., either for the same employer or a new employer, are also not counted.

You can find the requirements to apply by clicking here.

You can also watch the following Telemundo segment where I answer questions about the H-1B visa:

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